running in sneakers increases your chances of injury. when you run wearing shoes, you are striking with the heel and and then the toe. this puts all kinds of pressure on the joints and leads to shin splints etc. right here, a study done by Harvard states that fore-foot striking generates a smaller collision force. the only way to strike with the fore or middle foot is to wear no or minimal shoes.

"Small studies have also shown that running barefoot somehow lessens joint impact by 12% and requires less energy than running with shoes. It’s possible barefoot runners land softer in the middle of the foot, put less strain on the rest of the body and are better able to use their toes to push off, creating a more natural foot strike.

“The way your foot hits the ground in a highly cushioned shoe is very forceful,” says Dr Najia Shakoor, the lead author of a study featured in the article. “When you are barefoot you have a natural motion from your heel to your toe. We now think that’s associated with more shock absorption.”

Of course, there are the obvious dangers – glass, blisters, bruising and infections to name a few. And not everyone is sold on barefoot running.

“Wearing no shoes is brilliant if you grew up walking or running this way like Kenyan athletes who have unlimited access to sandy and soft, grassy ground,” says Lorraine Jones of the Society for Chiropodists and Podiatrists.

The problem is most of us run on road or paved trail, which is extremely hard on our feet and bodies. I, for one, can’t imagine running barefoot (unless I’m on the beach). I love my Asics."

"Small studies have also shown that running barefoot somehow lessens joint impact by 12% and requires less energy than running with shoes. It’s possible barefoot runners land softer in the middle of the foot, put less strain on the rest of the body and are better able to use their toes to push off, creating a more natural foot strike.

“The way your foot hits the ground in a highly cushioned shoe is very forceful,” says Dr Najia Shakoor, the lead author of a study featured in the article. “When you are barefoot you have a natural motion from your heel to your toe. We now think that’s associated with more shock absorption.”

Of course, there are the obvious dangers – glass, blisters, bruising and infections to name a few. And not everyone is sold on barefoot running.

“Wearing no shoes is brilliant if you grew up walking or running this way like Kenyan athletes who have unlimited access to sandy and soft, grassy ground,” says Lorraine Jones of the Society for Chiropodists and Podiatrists.

The problem is most of us run on road or paved trail, which is extremely hard on our feet and bodies. I, for one, can’t imagine running barefoot (unless I’m on the beach). I love my Asics."

Hence the shoe market trying to mimic bare feet, but with a layer of protection. There are others besides vibram getting into it. Even Nike has a version.

well if its the surface that makes a difference, then maybe running with shoes on concrete isnt the best form of exercise. find a park or a dirt trail where running barefoot is the best, and then wear Vibrams to protect your feet from cuts and scratches. i dont know but for some reason i dont trust child slaving corporations like Nike etc. that brand new "supercushion" they market is probably just another piece of foam. to me it makes sense to go back to our roots, we were running barefoot for hundreds thousands of years before good ol nike came about to rescue us from our misery.

well if its the surface that makes a difference, then maybe running with shoes on concrete isnt the best form of exercise. find a park or a dirt trail where running barefoot is the best, and then wear Vibrams to protect your feet from cuts and scratches. i dont know but for some reason i dont trust child slaving corporations like Nike etc. that brand new "supercushion" they market is probably just another piece of foam. to me it makes sense to go back to our roots, we were running barefoot for hundreds thousands of years before good ol nike came about to rescue us from our misery.

For sure. I have proven that myself, since I was a rural kid on a huge acreage who ran bf everyday all over the property. I was always first in T&F. Add in chopping wood and bringing wheelbarrow loads higher than my head and you had a kid who ended up also armwrestle champ of the town. Never underestimate natural hard work.

basically the reason why our feet look the way they do (going down in size like AT&T bars) is because we have been stuffing our feet into narrow shoes our whole lives. pictures of people who have never worn shoes like that show their toes being spread apart and equal length, therefore giving the person more stability while walking/running.

Hence the shoe market trying to mimic bare feet, but with a layer of protection. There are others besides vibram getting into it. Even Nike has a version.

Nike Frees are comfortable and ok for a long slow jog, but thats about it. Terrible for sprinting or anything that involves the slightest change in direction. They also wear down really fast.

Here are my two current trainers, both have a minimal heel. The prior has more lateral and arch support, the latter has barely any difference in high between mid foot and heel. Both are much better then Free's

PS: I think I should note, that for the majority of the human population, we have been running in some form of sandals for the past 10k years. From ice age times, to greek and roman, to even the tarahumara, they ran in some form of sandals.

I read this thread the other day and laughed. And then I noticed the most hilarious thing. A 20 year old kid with a bandanna, underarmour shirt(my 4 year old could wear) a bleached mohawk, and adorable little toesy sockshoes! And guess what he was doing? Sets of 2 on flat bench with 10 minutes between sets. PRICELESS.

I read this thread the other day and laughed. And then I noticed the most hilarious thing. A 20 year old kid with a bandanna, underarmour shirt(my 4 year old could wear) a bleached mohawk, and adorable little toesy sockshoes! And guess what he was doing? Sets of 2 on flat bench with 10 minutes between sets. PRICELESS.

People who ask my advice in the gym about something, start to listen, don't get told what they want to hear, then begin to debate with me. Stop wasting my time.

Or, ask advice, you give them advice ("my shoulder hurts" stop doing presses behind your neck and ungodly amounts of upright rows and front raises), listen to you, then turn around and keep on doing what they were just doing. Again wasting my time.

People who ask my advice in the gym about something, start to listen, don't get told what they want to hear, then begin to debate with me. Stop wasting my time.

Or, ask advice, you give them advice ("my shoulder hurts" stop doing presses behind your neck and ungodly amounts of upright rows and front raises), listen to you, then turn around and keep on doing what they were just doing. Again wasting my time.

Haven't seen anyone talk about curling 3 inches from where you rack dumbells. Am i the only one that gets pissed at **** like that? Take a few steps back so the rest of us dont have to watch out for swinging dumbells. On the topic of curls, if ur curling and looks like ur bowling or some ****, straighten up ur damn form

even though they are "trying" to help, people that offer a spot and lift as hard as they can at the first sight of struggle to lock out a rep, give me some damn time to get it on my own for christs sake

Standing, crunching, whatever on bosu balls has to be my least favorite training fad. Ugh. Aside from that, I hate seeing people walk on treadmills for extended periods of time.

This isn't a fad, but it's also something that pissed me off in the gym...I heard a group of women talking in the gym the other day and one of them, who was fairly petite, talking about how she burnt 2300 calories in a two hour workout. Sorry, but no you ****ing didn't. I managed to burn about 1300 calories in an hour a few times and I'm a 200 lb. man with really good cardio and it was SERIOUSLY hard. A 120 lb woman can not burn that. So many people that don't know anything tell other people this nonsense and they believe it, then change up their routines and diet based on crap information.